A top U.S. State Department official says the Obama administration will soon submit the South Korea-U.S. free trade agreement to Congress.

Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell made the remark before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Thursday.

Campbell said the trade pact will deliver immediate, significant economic benefits, but will also deepen the U.S.’s engagement and strengthen its partnership with a central ally in a volatile and rapidly growing region.

He said that in strategic terms, the trade deal will underscore Seoul and Washington’s commitment to prosperity and security in the Asia Pacific and fortify their leadership role and influence in the region.